Hazbin Hotel: Sins and Second Chances

Chapter 13

Zack jumped, startled by the strange, old timely voice that came out of nowhere, accidentally knocking KeeKee off his lap as he spun around to face the source of the unknown figure.

His eyes widen as they landed on the new figure standing behind him.

The demon that stood before him was tall, impossibly slender, and radiated an aura of malevolent charm. His smile was unnaturally wide, filled with sharp, yellow teeth. Dressed in an old-fashioned, pinstriped red suit with a bowtie and gloves, the figure had an air of someone who thrived on theatrics. But it was his eyes, gleaming red, filled with something dark that unsettled Zack the most.

"The pleasure is all mine, Zachary Barnes."

Alastor's voice was smooth, filled with the unmistakable tone of an old-time radio host. The crackle of static seemed to follow his every word as his grin never faltered. His pinkish red hair and small black antlers only added to his surreal appearance. In his hand, he carried a cane with a vintage microphone attached to it, which, like him, seemed alive in a way that Zack couldn't explain.

"I must say, I am positively delighted to make your acquaintance." Alastor continued, his voice carrying a mocking edge. "Imagine my surprise when I learned that the dear daughter of Lucifer himself had the audacity to drag a living soul into our delightful little realm. Quite the bold move." He chuckled lightly,

The demons' presence filled the room, suffocating in its intensity. His sharp eyes seemed to strip away Zack's defenses, reading him like an open book. Despite the politeness of his words, there was a cruel amusement in Alastor's tone, as though everything around him was part of an elaborate game. He radiated a certain power that intimidated Zack, and hearing his full name was unnerving, as was the casual confidence he showed.

Charlie, sensing the tension, jumped in quickly, her voice cheerful but with an edge of nervousness. "Zack, this is Alastor! He's the facility manager of the Hotel. And Alastor, Zack is here to help us! He's got experience helping people, and I think he's perfect for the job."

Alastor's sharp smile shifted slightly as he turned his attention to Charlie, his expression softening somewhat, though the threat of malice never left his eyes. "Oh, I have no doubt, dear Charlie. You always had such... ambitious ideas." His tone was smooth, almost affectionate, but it wasn't hard to pick up the thin veiled mockery.

His gaze snapped back to Zack, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "But, Zachary, you were already walking a fine line, weren't you, my boy? So close to coming here on your own."

Zack felt a lump form in his throat. Alastor's words hit too close to home. His struggles, his moments of self-doubt and darkness, there were laid bare in front of this demon who seemed to know far too much about him.

"I...I've had my struggles," Zack said, doing his best to keep his voice steady. "But I'm trying to get better."

The demon let out a low chuckle, the sound like static from an old radio. "Ah, yes. Trying to get better. How quaint. But you know as well as I do, Zachary. The line between the living and the damned is so very thin. One bad decision, one slip, and you'd be right here with the rest of us. Isn't that right?"

Hearing that made Zack clench his jaw, uneasy with how casually Alastor was toying with him. The way the demon spoke of life and death as though they were mere afterthoughts made his skin crawl. It wasn't just the words, it was the delight that Alastor seemed to take in the tension, in the fear he could invoke with just a few well placed remarks.

Vaggie, who had been watching the exchange in silence, finally stepped forward, her voice sharp as she cut through the thick tension brought about by Alastor. "We don't have time for your games, Alastor. If you've finished with the promotional, hand it over. We got work to do."